The Same Place

Years ago, I heard Paul Crouch, then president of the Trinity Broadcasting Network say, “The brink of a disaster and the brink of a miracle are the same place.”  God does his finest work and proves His power when things look their worst. The hour preceding dawn is the darkest.  You may be in that hour, but take heart, morning’s coming!

Travel back with me to 1446 B.C.  Moses and the Children of Israel have escaped from Egyptian bondage.  But not without nerve-wracking consequences and further testing.  The people are backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit.  Things look pretty bleak for the approximate 1.5 million men, women and children. Many in the crowd begin to murmur against Moses. “Why did you bring us out here to die in this wilderness” (Exodus 14:11)?  Fear began to sweep through the camp, as horse hooves trampling the earth became louder. 

Disaster appeared imminent.  Between confusion brought on by the enemy and the grumbling of the people, Moses had his hands full.  His leadership was on the line, and God’s reputation was soon to be verified.    

But then…

Moses lifted his rod high and the waters of the Red Sea divided.  The breath of God piled the waters high on each side and dried the earth under the sea.  A pillar of fire then separated the Israelites from the fast approaching Egyptian army.  It was Israel’s finest moment, one that Jews still celebrate today!  We do, too!  In that hour, the brink of a disaster and the brink of a miracle were one in the same!       

Have you been there?  Perhaps you’re there now!  Backed up against the wall with seemingly no help in sight.  The enemy of your soul may even be taunting you:  “Where is your God now?”  

Keep praising.  Keep believing.  Your deliverance is on the way!  God has not brought you this far to fail you now.  “The horse and its rider WILL be thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:21b).   We used to sing this faith declaration:

“How great is our God!

How great is His name!

He’s the greatest One, forever the same.

He rolled back the waters of the mighty Red Sea.

And He said, “I’ll never leave you, so put your trust in Me!”

No matter how difficult your circumstances, no matter what you’re facing, the waters are about to part.  “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).  Let this incredible story from Israel’s archives, hold you steady today.  The same God Who parted the waters approximately 3,466 years ago is still proving His power today!  The brink of your disaster is about ready to become your most glorious victory!

Praise Him out loud this very moment! 

Are You a Project?

Many years ago, at my invitation, I had breakfast with another pastor.  Instead of pouring into him and enjoying his company, I used the time to whine about a church problem.  The man abruptly interrupted me mid-sentence and said, “I didn’t come here to listen to your problems. Frankly, I don’t want to hear about them.”  Then, he got up and left.  

Admittedly, I was embarrassed and my feelings were hurt.  Anger quickly followed. “Who does he think he is?” I thought.  “What an arrogant, uncaring pastor.”

Was the man rude?  Yes. Did his approach leave something to be desired?  Absolutely! But out of that emotionally painful experience the Lord showed me that I had become a “project.”  I was all too willing to tell anyone who would listen about my woes. I was not enjoyable to be around because I allowed my personal hurts to define me.  I wasn’t interested in changing my outlook or moving past my pain. In this particular case, I was seeking the wrong kind of attention, unwilling to learn from his response, no matter how unkind.  

Nobody needs a “project.”  Why? Because nothing ever changes with some people. They get stuck.  They spin their wheels in the deep ruts of their past. They seek out those willing to validate their pain.  “Projects” become broken records that fixate on the same things. They never change, nor do they want to. They are the same today as they were three years ago!  Pain and on-going drama become their “normal.”

What do “project people” look like?  What are their characteristics?

1. They are totally self-centered.  Everything is about their pain.
2. They seldom, if ever, ask about others.
3. They tell the same stories over and over, refusing to walk in forgiveness.
4. They usually become social misfits, unable to make or keep friends.
5. They leave a trail of broken relationships behind them, often including family members.
6. They become unattached to the needs of others and easily angered when others try to redirect them.  
7. They despise healthy social boundaries.
8.  They become unteachable.
9.  Finally, they spend their lives playing the victim.

How do we address “project people?”  Sadly, many times these individuals cannot be helped until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

“Projects” gravitate toward sympathetic listening ears.  Once...twice...three times, maybe; then an on-going “project” has to be lovingly confronted.  Often, “projects” move toward flight instead of being willing to honestly confront their deeper issues.

We are followers of Christ, who of course, should love everyone.  Sometimes, however, tough love is needed to effect life change. Until  “projects” are willing to make the necessary adjustments in their thinking patterns and actions, they remain time wasters.  

Remember, everyone is precious to God and possesses divinely given potential.  Some, however, refuse to improve the quality of their present, by allowing their past to enslave them.   

Do you know someone you view as a “project?”  Refuse to live in guilt when you have to call them to task. At times we offer the wrong kind of help that only perpetuates already negatively-established patterns. We are called upon to teach “project people” how to plant wheat instead of always giving them bread. 

Open, honest, and loving confrontation may drive them away temporarily, but in the long run, our prayer is that these “projects” seek life change that rebuilds their credibility and integrity.

The Fear of the Lord

The Scriptures speak of the fear of the Lord, but perhaps not in the way you may be thinking.  To begin, let me give three dictionary definitions of fear:

1.  Feeling of anxiety--an unpleasant feeling of apprehension caused by the presence or anticipation of danger.

2.  Frightening thought--an idea, thought or other entity that causes feelings of fear.

3.  Reverence--respect or awe for somebody or something.

Sadly, many unbelievers and even many Christians fear God according to definitions 1 and 2.  These definitions, however, do not describe the fear of the Lord as mentioned in the Bible.  Simply put, a healthy fear of the Lord involves a respect or awe of His Person and presence.  He is an awesome God who is worthy of our highest admiration and praise.  We need not be afraid or scared of the Lord, but we should honor and reverence His Name.

Several verses in the Bible mention the fear of the Lord, but none more poignantly than in the Proverbs.  Let me list a few:

1:7 --  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

2:1-5-- "My son, if you receive my words, and hide my commandments with you: so that you incline your ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."

3:7--"Don't be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord."

8:13--"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil..."

9:16--"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..."

As you have read, the fear of the Lord is a positive thing--so necessary, and its benefits are wonderful!  Generally speaking, scriptural teaching on the fear of the Lord produces believers who seek after godly knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  Mostly, those who fear the Lord will want to live above the pull of sin, the flesh and the devil.  They will weep over those things that cause God to weep, and rejoice over the things that gladden the heart of God!

I encourage you today to walk in a healthy fear of the Lord.  The benefits of a healthy fear are positive and life-changing!

Leaky Eyes

Our emotions are a wonderful gift from God.  We cry during sad movies.  We cry when someone we love dies.  We cry when God’s wonderful presence comes during times of intense worship and prayer times.  Some of us cry when we’re happy! 

For sure, crying has therapeutic value.  God gave us tear ducts to serve as a release valves.  When the pressures of life mount, we let off stress through tears.  One day I asked my then two-year-old granddaughter Madison why she was crying.  She responded, “Papa, my eyes are leaking!”

In my dealings with people over 41 years of ministry I discovered that some cry because they have unresolved anger issues in their life.  Frankly, I’m suspect when someone can’t talk without bursting into tears.  This may suggest that unresolved anger finds surface expression through crocodile tears!  In other words, he or she masks their real issues with tears. We must understand that crying is designed to free us, not to justify ongoing negative behavior. Let me explain by talking about a “crier” whose story is partially told in the book of Genesis 27:30-40.  He cried crocodile tears – insincere and anger-filled. 

It is the story of Jacob, who deceived his brother Esau by tricking his blind father and stealing the family blessing that was rightfully Esau’s.  While we might understand Esau’s anger, we see where any tears he shed were misdirected.  Esau was a hothead who cried, not because he was sorry for his behavior, but because he had murder in his heart.  His tears were produced by unresolved anger that went unchecked.  He was not honest with himself!

Hebrews 12:17 gives additional insight into Esau’s character:  “For you knew that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.”  Believe me.  His tears were anger induced.  He was emotionally and spiritually undeveloped.  He did not cry because he was repentant.  He cried because he wanted to kill his deceitful brother! 

Rejection – real or perceived – leads to anger.  Healing does not come through crying alone.  It comes through release and by offering forgiveness.  Legitimate crying often accompanies release.  What kinds of things do we release through tears?  Here are just a few:  Sin, forgiveness, bitterness, hurts, anger, offenses, wounds of the past, pressures of every day life, and of course, rejection.

Many times the validity of a person’s salvation experience is gauged by how much he cries.  However, I’ve seen criers repeat the “Sinner’s Prayer” and then walk out the church doors never to return.  On the other hand, I’ve seen very contemplative people who showed little or no emotion, go on to become stalwart Christians. 

Both 1 John 1:9 and Romans 10:9-10 say, “If we confess…”  They don’t say, “If we cry…”  To confess means to agree with what God says in His Word.  Crying that follows Biblical confession more than likely results in changed behavior. 

As a child I used to cry when I knew I was in trouble.  I cried, hoping to lessen my punishment.  It seldom worked!  The proof lies, not in how much we cry, but in how much we release to God.  A lot of crying people leave church altars still full of anger.  I’m thankful for a salvation that touches my emotions, but I’m more thankful for a salvation that goes deep to pull out hidden sins – including unresolved anger like Jacob exhibited. 

Remember, God gave us emotions to serve us, not to master us or serve as a smokescreen to the real issues at hand.  Healthy crying produces healthy results, and never produces “cry babies.”